eor - made in Germany
Employer of Record (EOR)
Are you an international company looking to hire employees in Germany without establishing your own local entity? Our Employer of Record (EOR) service is the ideal solution for legally compliant and hassle-free employment in Germany. We hold the mandatory license from the Federal Employment Agency, ensuring that our service is fully compliant with legal requirements.
What Does an Employer of Record (EOR) do?
An Employer of Record (EOR) is an organization that helps companies expand internationally by employing and paying employees on behalf of another company. EORs assume the responsibility for all formal employment tasks, including payroll processes and compliance documentation.
Simply put, using an Employer of Record (EOR) allows companies to legally and efficiently employ employees in other countries without having to set up a local entity or risk violating local employment laws.
Our Services
Employment of employees for the Client (EOR model)
Payroll processing, statutory deductions, and payments
HR support for day-to-day employee matters.
Benefits administration and statutory insurances
Employment contracts and documentation
Onboarding and offboarding support
Compliance with German labor and employment law
Coordination with authorities (tax, social insurance, etc.)
Focus on what Matters
By letting us take care of all legal and administrative employer duties, you can focus on your core business goals. We handle the back-end compliance so you can drive forward with confidence.
By using our EOR service, you can hire employees in Germany instantly without the lengthy process of setting up a local subsidiary. This gives you the agility to seize opportunities in the German market right away.
How much does employment in Germany cost, and how much is an EOR?
Hiring in Germany involves more than just paying a gross salary. Employers are required to contribute
to statutory social insurance, health, pension, and unemployment schemes — typically adding around 24 % on top of gross pay.
Employer Cost Calculator
Germany · Monthly estimate (Employer cost excludes EOR fee)
EOR fee is shown separately and not included in the employer cost totals.
Employer Cost (Monthly)
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Gross salary + employer contributions (excludes EOR fee)
ER Contribution (Monthly)
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Sum of employer-side contributions
EOR Fee (Monthly)
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Displayed separately (not included above)
Employer cost structure in Germany
- Based on a Gross Salary = 100%
- Pension insurance (9.3 %) – statutory retirement fund
- Health insurance (8.9 %) – statutory health insurance
- Long-term care insurance (1.8 %) – nursing and care contribution
- Unemployment insurance (1.3 %) – unemployment protection
- U1 (2.5 %) – reimbursement (partial) for longtime sickness
- U2 (0.34 %) – reimbursement for maternity and parental leave
- U3 (0.15 %) – insolvency levy
Employers in Germany pay about 24 % on top of gross salary in mandatory contributions.
These contributions ensure strong social protection but make employment administration complex — worknow handles payroll, benefits, and compliance for you, so you know exactly what employment in Germany really costs.
worknow fees
- worknow provides full Employer of Record services in Germany, covering employment, payroll and compliance end to end.
- We handle contracts, payroll, social security, benefits and tax filings — so you can focus on running your business.
- Our standard monthly fee is EUR 599 per employee, billed as a clear, all-inclusive rate. The fee covers all employment administration, payroll processing and statutory compliance in Germany and applies only while the employee is actively employed through worknow.
- Employee salaries and statutory employment costs are payable by the 15th of each month, with salary payments made on the third-last German banking day.
- Before onboarding, a refundable deposit equal to one month’s gross salary is required. The deposit is fully offset against the final payroll payment when employment ends.
Get in touch for a transparent quote based on your specific needs.
Paid time off and holidays in Germany
- worknow ensures fair, transparent and fully compliant employment conditions in Germany, based on applicable German labor law and statutory standards.
- Employees benefit from strong employment protections, clearly regulated working conditions and paid leave. Annual vacation is defined in line with German law and is commonly extended contractually depending on role and seniority.
- Germany observes 9 to 13 public holidays, depending on the employee’s federal state. For example, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg have more public holidays than Berlin or Hamburg.
- In case of illness, employees in Germany continue to receive their full salary for up to six weeks, as required by German law. Statutory reimbursement mechanisms apply, ensuring predictable employer costs.
Overall, German labor law provides a high level of employee protection. worknow ensures that all employment conditions are implemented correctly and in full compliance from day one.
Notice Periods in Germany
n Germany, employment contracts typically include a probationary period of up to six months. During this probation period, the statutory notice period is two weeks, unless otherwise agreed.
After the probation period, the standard statutory notice period is four weeks, either to the 15th or to the end of a calendar month. For terminations by the employer, notice periods may increase with the employee’s length of service, in accordance with German law.
worknow ensures that all notice periods are applied correctly and in full compliance with German labor regulations.
Here’s what you can expect from us ✔︎
Onboarding within 1–3 days – even on weekends, if all documents are ready. Fast, practical and flexible.
Full compliance – we operate with a valid German labour leasing licence (AÜG), so your business and your employees are always on the safe side.
Direct personal support – every client and every employee gets a dedicated contact person. Available 6 days a week, 365 days a year, by email, phone or mobile.
Local presence – our team members are based in all major German cities, ready to support on the ground.
Transparent fixed pricing – clear monthly fees, no hidden charges with clear communications
Proven experience – as the largest supplier of external workforce for Uber & Uber Eats in Germany, we know how to manage complex workforce projects reliably
Why Germany is Especially Complex
Germany is an attractive market, but it also has one of the most regulated employment systems worldwide. A few key challenges include:
An EOR in Germany ensures full compliance with these regulations — reducing your legal and financial risk
Strict labor laws
Detailed rules for working hours, vacation, overtime, and termination.
Strong employee rights
Notice periods, protections against unfair dismissal, and mandatory co-determination in some cases.
Social security obligations
Employers must contribute to health insurance, pension, unemployment, and nursing care insurance — mistakes are costly.
Collective agreements
Many industries have binding wage agreements and conditions.
Employee leasing regulations (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung)
Specific licensing requirements apply when employees are assigned through third parties.
why worknow EOR services
Hiring in Germany can be complex – from strict labour leasing regulations to visa requirements and local compliance rules. Many global EOR providers work with standardised processes that look smooth online, but they often don’t reflect the unique reality of the German market. That’s where we step in.
worknow is based in Berlin, Germany, and we combine local expertise with a very personal approach. We don’t just provide documents – we make sure things actually move quickly and smoothly.
FAQs for Employer of Record Services
What does Employer of Record mean at worknow?
An Employer of Record (EOR) enables companies to employ staff in another country in a fully compliant manner without setting up a local legal entity. worknow operates exclusively in Germany and acts as the legal employer for employees hired in Germany on behalf of foreign companies.
Based in Berlin, with in-depth knowledge of German labor, tax and social security law and the required legal authorizations, worknow ensures that employment in Germany is fully compliant. Our approach focuses on personal support, clear processes and direct accessibility.
Which services does worknow provide as an Employer of Record?
worknow assumes all legal and administrative employer responsibilities in Germany. This includes the preparation of compliant German employment contracts, full payroll processing, payment of taxes and social security contributions and all required filings with authorities and social security institutions.
Day-to-day management and operational collaboration with the employee remain fully with the client company.
How does payroll work at worknow?
As Employer of Record, worknow bears full responsibility for accurate and timely payroll in Germany. Salaries are paid on time, all statutory deductions are correctly processed and all reporting obligations are fulfilled.
This allows foreign companies to employ staff in Germany without having to deal with the complexity of German payroll, tax and social security regulations themselves.
What are the costs of using worknow?
worknow’s standard monthly EOR fee is EUR 599 per employee. This fee covers ongoing Employer-of-Record services, including payroll, compliance and administrative support.
In addition, a small one-time onboarding fee and a one-time offboarding fee apply. All costs are communicated transparently before the start of the engagement. worknow does not charge hidden fees or percentage-based fees on employee salaries.
Can I hire employees in Germany without an Employer of Record?
worknow is not a global platform provider, but a Germany-focused Employer of Record. With a clear regional focus, a Berlin headquarters and personal support, worknow offers a significantly higher level of legal certainty than broadly positioned international providers.
Instead of anonymous workflows, you work with dedicated contacts who understand German labor law and take your specific situation into account.
How does worknow differ from international EOR providers?
worknow is not a global platform provider, but a Germany-focused Employer of Record. With a clear regional focus, a Berlin headquarters and personal support, worknow offers a significantly higher level of legal certainty than broadly positioned international providers.
Instead of anonymous workflows, you work with dedicated contacts who understand German labor law and take your specific situation into account.
Is employment through worknow legally permissible?
Yes. Employment through an Employer of Record is legally permissible in Germany, provided all statutory requirements are met. worknow fulfills these requirements and ensures that all labor, tax and social security obligations are implemented correctly.
This significantly reduces legal, compliance and liability risks for your company.
Is there a minimum or maximum duration for employment with worknow?
There is no minimum duration for employment with worknow.
Under German law, employment within an Employer-of-Record / employee leasing setup is subject to a maximum duration of 18 months. worknow ensures that this statutory limit is observed and supports you in structuring the engagement accordingly.
If longer-term employment in Germany is planned, worknow is happy to advise on alternative, compliant setups.
Can worknow provide a company car or fuel card?
No. As an Employer of Record, worknow does not provide company cars or fuel cards.
Due to the limited duration of EOR arrangements and the financial, legal and tax risks associated with vehicle leasing, this is not feasible. As an alternative, clients may arrange a vehicle directly, for example through a long-term rental. Where applicable, worknow can reflect private-use taxation or mileage reimbursement in a compliant way via payroll.
How does the collaboration with worknow start?
Getting started with worknow is simple.
You send us a short email outlining your hiring plans in Germany, including who you want to hire, for which role, the intended start date, the planned salary and the expected duration of employment.
Based on this information, worknow reviews feasibility and, in most cases, completes the entire setup within 3–5 business days. Where required, we are also able to progress steps over weekends to meet tight timelines. Throughout the process, you are supported by a dedicated contact to ensure a compliant, transparent and straightforward setup.
You send us a short email outlining your hiring plans in Germany, including who you want to hire, for which role, the intended start date, the planned salary and the expected duration of employment.
Based on this information, worknow reviews feasibility and, in most cases, completes the entire setup within 3–5 business days. Where required, we are also able to progress steps over weekends to meet tight timelines. Throughout the process, you are supported by a dedicated contact to ensure a compliant, transparent and straightforward setup.
With worknow, you get the best of both worlds. EOR - Made in Germany.
the efficiency of a modern EOR service and the reliability of a local partner who is always there when you need support.
Hiring an EOR provider without the necessary Agentur für Arbeit authorization can expose your business to serious risks. Under German law, you could face subsidiary liability, meaning you could be held accountable for any violations of labor, tax, or social security laws committed by your provider. This could result in hefty fines and unexpected back payments.
our pricing
Transparent fees. Reliable service. Local expertise.
We believe in clear and predictable costs, which is why our pricing model is fully transparent, legally compliant, and tailored to meet the specific requirements of your business in Germany.
worknow GmbH
Schlüterstraße 37
D-10629 Berlin
+49 (0) 30 887 212 02

info@w-now.de

